Wabash Avenue Bridge

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Wabash Avenue Bridge
Wabash Avenue Bridge 090516.JPG
Wabash Avenue Bridge at night
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Carries Automobiles
Pedestrians
Crosses Chicago River
Locale Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Official name Irv Kupcinet Bridge
Other name(s) Wabash Avenue Bridge
Maintained by Chicago Department of Transportation
ID number 000016605226647
Characteristics
Design Double-leaf bascule bridge
Total length 345 feet (105 m)
Width 90 feet (27 m)
Longest span 232 feet (71 m)
Number of spans 3
Clearance below 22 feet (7 m)
History
Designer Thomas Pihlfeldt
Opened 1930
Statistics
Daily traffic 5,800[1]

The Wabash Avenue Bridge (officially, Irv Kupcinet Bridge) over the Chicago River was built in 1930. Standing west of the Michigan Avenue Bridge and southwest of the Trump International Hotel and Tower, the bascule bridge connects the Near North Side with "The Loop" area.

The single-deck, double-leaf bascule bridge was designed by Thomas Pihlfeldt and built by the Ketler and Elliot Company.[2] The American Institute of Steel Construction awarded it the "Most Beautiful" bridge in 1930.[2]

The control houses for controlling bridge operations are on the northwest and southwest corners of the bridge. The control houses are identical in design. In 1961 the control houses were upgraded to allow single man operation. Electrical modernization also accompanied this upgrade. While the northern control house is no longer in use, it still stands.[2]

In popular culture

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  • The bridge was used in the opening sequence of Perfect Strangers from season 3 onwards, which the title card was shown at the beginning, as well as the opening sequence of the first three seasons of the Perfect Strangers spin-off series, Family Matters, where the Winslow family are riding bicycles over the bridge.
  • The bridge was also used in the opening credits of Siskel & Ebert.
  • A glimpse of the bridge was featured in the opening sequence to the first three seasons of The Bob Newhart Show.
  • The bridge was also used in Dhoom 3.

See also

References

Wabash Avenue Bridge summer 1999 in a photo from the National Park Service
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  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links